Planned Obsolescence: Is It a Trap Set for the Consumer or Is It a Strategy Contributing to Social Development?

Abstract

Planned Obsolescence, which is a controversial concept with its positive and negative criticism in the literature, is a concept that refers to the limited life span of products. It attracts the attention of researchers that the concept is both identified with consumption culture and seen as an important development tool. Based on the question of “Is planned obsolescence a socioeconomic opportunity or a trap for consumers?” it is aimed to reveal the approaches of the experts in this study. Based on the qualitative research design semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 experts. As a result of the study generally two approaches of the interviewers towards the concept of planned obsolescence can be mentioned. According to the first approach, planned obsolescence is considered as a necessary and ethical concept for social, economic, technological and ecological development. Planned obsolescence has been “positively” received in that it allows consumers to get rid of repair and maintenance costs and lower income groups to access services. According to the second approach, planned obsolescence is considered as the sum of characteristics that pollute the environment, exploit consumers, waste resources and push people to crime.

Keywords

• Planned Obsolescence
• Consumption Culture
• Marketing
• Economic Development
• Qualitative Method

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